Victorville man, 84, has special wish granted

VICTORVILLE • For a brief moment, Carl Johns, 84, went back in time as he cruised down Route 66 in a purple '56 Chevy Bel Air, with 30 classic vehicles following close behind.

As the convoy made its way down D Street toward National Trails Highway and Silver Lakes — with two motorcycle deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department leading the way — a wide-eyed Johns smiled and waved to onlookers who cheered the vehicles on.

"I always wanted one of these cars, it's so beautiful," said an excited Johns, as CNA Nathan Childress from Knolls West Convalescent Home in Victorville helped him from a wheelchair to the passenger seat before the group departed for a Wednesday afternoon drive.

Johns said he once thought of buying or building his own '56 Chevy, but the love and responsibility of raising his family got in the way.

Recently, Johns asked his daughter, Tammy Botts, if he could take a ride in a '56 Chevy before he dies, a request Botts said she would make happen no matter the cost.

"I didn't know how I was going to pull it off, but I knew that it had to be done," Botts, 49, said. "Once he leaves Knolls West, he'll be on hospice. The liver and bone cancer is taking a toll and doctors aren't giving him much time.

Once Botts made her father's request known, her friend, Juanita Weis, 72, kept the classic car idea rolling by reaching out to her friend Kylleen Coogan from Hesperia Community Church.

"Kylleen contacted Michelle McMahon, who found two cars down the hill," Weis said. "Before you know it, other classic car owners said they wanted to get in on the action. We didn't know how many cars would be joining us on our trip to Silver Lakes and back again."

Botts said McMahon, the wife of Sheriff John McMahon, helped to organize the police escort.

As the sound of the Chevy engine hummed in front of Knolls West, Emil Aznar, who drove to Chicago on Route 66 in 1953, was behind the wheel of his Bel Air, waiting for the man of the hour.

"I've never been asked to do something like this before, but I jumped all over it when I heard what it was all about," said Aznar, 72, a member of the Over the Hill Gang car club of San Bernardino. "What a wonderful thing to do. I'll never forget this day."

The event was a complete surprise to Johns. As a large group of well-wishers gathered around the car at Knolls West to snap photos and wave good-bye, Johns made himself comfortable in the front seat of the Bel Air, with his wife, Donna; granddaughter, Amber Botts; and Tammy Botts in the back seat.

"When I helped him get into the car, he gave me a big hug and I could feel his tears," Childress said. "I was so very happy for him. And the look on his face was precious, pure joy."

Weis said after Johns was picked up, the Bel Air met up with the rest of the convoy, in front of Mollie Brown's restaurant on Hesperia Road.

"He been such a wonderful grandpa, and his grandkids love him," Botts said. "He was one of those loving grandpas who used to take them fishing."

After the ride, Tammy Botts said her father was amazed by the police escort and the sight of a few low-rider cars that went up on two tires during the Silver Lakes turn around.

"When I saw all these cars following us, I felt like I was the granddaughter of the president," Amber Botts, 9, said. "It was such a special day for my grandpa."

Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or at RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com

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